New Thorn

Wang Anshi transmigrated back in time. Only after returning to the Northern Song Dynasty did he realize that it had all been planned.

For example, in this life he had lived in the new century, born under the red flag and raised in the spring breeze. He had received a higher education, understood materialism, and passed the civil service exam in his twenties. The organization sent him to the front lines in a rural township to carry out the grueling campaign against poverty. Then, after tragically drowning in the line of duty, he shot straight back to the Northern Song, nearly a thousand years in the past. From somewhere beyond, a voice spoke gently: "Your work wasn't very successful last time. Let's try again."

Wang Anshi: "W-what work?"

Then his memories came rushing back.

Wang Anshi: "...All right, the reform campaign."

But when he stood up beneath the stars of the Northern Song and went to a nearby village to ask about the state of affairs, he discovered that he hadn't come back to take charge of the work. He'd come back to work for his former self.

Even the people in this village knew that Wang Anshi had met with the emperor and already begun his reforms.

That wouldn't do. The newly arrived Wang Anshi, whom we'll call New Jing, pondered for a long while and came up with a simple plan.

Step one: Take the civil service exam again and join the reform team as soon as possible.

Step two: Win Old Jing's trust, change his way of thinking, and revise the reform proposals.

Step three: If Old Jing refuses to change, which is quite likely, then unite everyone who can be united and mobilize every available resource. Keep capable but dangerous figures such as Zhang Dun, Zeng Bu, and Lü Huiqing firmly under control, within limits. Let them shine, let them burn, and squeeze every last bit of value out of them. Build up enough power to stand against Old Jing and replace him, leaving him to draw the fire from people like Sima Guang so that the new reforms can be implemented smoothly.

1.

The reigning emperor, Zhao Xu, presides over the palace examination. The emperor says, "Raise your head." New Jing looks up.

Emperor: "...How strange. Haven't I seen this young man somewhere before?"

2.

New Jing: "This won't be easy. We're already past the beginning of the reforms, so changing the details will be difficult."

New Jing: "No matter how I look at it, these are all systemic problems. Should I just overthrow feudal rule and establish a republic?"

Emperor Shenzong: (A sudden shiver)

Core idea: Make the Great Song Great Again